Ricky forced to retire to hyperbaric chamber

Chloe Saltau

RICKY PONTING spent Saturday night in a hyperbaric chamber, an undignified setting for the fearless leader of Australian cricket on his 35th birthday, less than a week before the Boxing Day Test.

Ponting did not enjoy the experience, coming on the night he had hoped to be celebrating an early victory against the West Indies and because of a young pace punk who tenderised his left elbow and rushed him into a shot not befitting one of the greatest batsmen of a generation.

''I played it poorly, at the end of the day,'' said Ponting of the moment he took his eye off the Kemar Roach bouncer on the opening day of the Perth Test.

''There's not too many times that I've been hit like that. First ball I actually went back and pulled one and the second ball I ducked into one a little bit. Looking back, I looked at the replays a few times, and I actually expected it to bounce a bit higher and get over me a bit more than it did. I just didn't play it well.

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''The next one hit me flush in the ribs because my arm was still dead and I couldn't get my bat up to fend that one off, so I wore a couple in a row. It hasn't happened too often in my career. Hopefully this doesn't hang around too long.''

Ponting had hoped to keep his oxygen therapy session secret but the news was broadcast around the country when Justin Langer, now an Australian assistant coach, made a guest appearance on ABC Radio.

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The hyperbaric chamber is designed to accelerate the healing process by pumping extra oxygen into the body, but if Ponting does not recover before Saturday he will have to hand the reins to Michael Clarke to captain Australia for the first time in a Test.

The selectors will name a reserve batsman to join the squad in Melbourne and it is most likely to be Phillip Hughes, who is coming off a Sheffield Shield century against Victoria. If Hughes resumes his previous role as an opener, Ponting suggested the least disruptive option would be to shuffle Simon Katich to No.3, where he has spent the bulk of his first-class career.

''That's one thing we've had a quick chat about at the moment, not with Katto yet, just a chat between Pup [Clarke] and I about that,'' Ponting said. ''What we don't want to do is disrupt everything and change the whole batting order around when it might only be for one Test, and that's if I don't come up.

''His [Hughes's] name will certainly be one that comes up, what we've got to decide is if we want to pick a specialist No.3 batsman or if we shuffle the order around and pick someone else to bat in the middle order.''

Another candidate is Shaun Marsh, who does not open in first-class cricket, while South Australia's No.3 Michael Klinger also posted a timely century on the weekend, although Ponting still hopes to play.

''It wasn't the most pleasant experience of my life, especially on my birthday night when I was looking forward to maybe finishing off a Test match,'' Ponting said. ''So I'm doing everything I can. I'll probably have a few more of those treatments over the next couple of days and if you want to know if I am, just ring Lang [Langer] and he'll tell you.

''I'm flat out doing whatever I can to give myself a chance. It's felt better over the last couple of days but in saying that I haven't had a bat in my hand either, and that's the thing that's been giving me the most grief, when I've had a bit of weight in my hand and going through my forearm.

''I love playing for Australia and every opportunity I get I treasure. Boxing Day is a big one on the calendar year, it's the first Test of a series as well, which I want to be a part of.''